What We're Reading: Americans Consider Nursing Most Ethical Profession

An annual Gallup poll reveals that Americans continue to view nursing as the most honest and ethical profession, as they have for the last 15 years. Of the poll’s respondents, 84% rate nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as high or very high. Pharmacists and physicians are ranked second and third on the list, but just 67% and 65%, respectively, agreed that their ethical standards and honesty are high or very high.

A recent study published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care indicates that 56% of Brazilian women aged 18-39 are avoiding pregnancy due to the Zika epidemic. In northeastern Brazil, where the epidemic is most severe, 66% of women say they are avoiding pregnancy, compared to 46% of women in southern Brazil. “Brazil must urgently reevaluate its reproductive health policies to ensure better access to contraception information and methods,” the study authors wrote.

According to a pilot study in Preventing Chronic Disease, cooking interventions may be a successful way to improve attitudes and behaviors related to vegetable consumption in low-income families. Trained instructors visited the homes of children enrolled in Head Start programs to teach cooking activities to the parents. After the intervention, the parents reported increased confidence in preparing and trying different vegetables.